Cover for curb boxes and the like



; Dec. 10, 1929. v. E. 35mm 1,788,556-

' OQVER FOR cm Boxss AND THE 311KB Filed uay'i, 1928 INVENTOR:

EEAGLE,

Fatented Dec. 10, 1929 COVER FOR CURB BGXES AND THE Application filed m 2, 1928. Serial No. 274,618."

The invention has for an object to provide a novel form of cover suitable for curb boxes particularly (although applicable in many other situations), which may be supplied as a standard unit, but adapted also to use as a replacement cover for various forms of curb boxes designed for the use of other covers. It

is a particular aim of the invention to provide such a cover which will utilize various lugs to or the like which are now provided on a number of standard forms of curb boxes to enable my cover to be secured firmly in place upon such various curb boxes without the use of the fastening screws which these curb boxes customarily require in order to secure the covers in place. v i

It is a special aim also ofthis invention to provide a cover which will adapt itself automatically to various sizes and kinds of curb boxes without requiring modification of its structure, nor tooling of any parts to enable it to be applied. v

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in the construction,

arrangement and combination of parts as will be more particularly described herein after, and shown in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top View of a cover.

Figure 2 is a modification thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the lower part of the device. I

Figure 4 is a similar perspective view at right angles to Figure 3.

tion. Figure 6 illustrates one manner of using the article, V

' While Figure 7 shows afurther use of the article, particularly where the entire bellfiange has been removed from a curb box top section and no lug is left upon the interior of the box.

There is illustrated a cover which is adapted to be cast integrally in one piece and it com prises a planiform top, body or plate 10 of circular shape centrally recessed at one side and having a pentagonal nut head 11 integral thereon so as to enable the device, to be turned by the standardservice mans wrench ordinarily employed on curbbox cover bolts;

Figure 5 1s a similar view of a mo difica- V This circular plate 10' is of a suitable size adapted .to cover several different sizes of curb boxes by resting upon the bell-flange at the top of the ordinary box in each instance. In such a box also, aflange l2 is customarily provided, which is apertured and threaded to receive a bolt through a standard cover in a way which is familiar in the art.

Upon the lower side of the plate 10 of my cover I have provided at one side a concentric, downwardly projected. flange. segment 1% extending over an area of about'lQOldegrees, more or less, the outer .sidebeing nearly perpendicular to the plate 10 as .practicable while yet permitting ready casting, while its inner side is sloped inwardly, so that it is thickened slightly at its base. Inwardly of this flange 14 an inclined portion 15 is formed on the lower side of the plate by thickening thereof, this part having somewhat the form of a segment of,. a cone, but 1 not perfectly conical, as its inclination with respect ,to the plate varies at different parts spaced circumferentially. Also formed integrally on the thickened part of this'partof the body adjacent the inclined portion 15 here is a cooperating flange 16, which is, substantially in the form of a segment of a helicoidal web, which, in addition to its spiral nature has also an inclination radially with respect to the plane of the plate 10. It should be noted that both this helicoidal element 16 and'the 'conicalportion 15 are eccentric to the center of the plate 10, although their outer boundaries or extreme partsterminate so as to lie within a projected cylinderconcentric with the top plate 10, and coincident with the outer face of] the depending flange 1 1 before mentioned. o

It is also important to note that the junction between the inclined flange 16 and the part 15 is rounded, and is located closely adjacent the axis of the-plate 10 at one side, while it extends outwardly toward the periphery of the plate at the opposite part of the flange 16, so as to be gradually convergent toward the periphery of the plate 10. The direction of convergence is counter-clockwise when considered 'from the top of the appliance, so that when the plate 10 is set upon the top of a curb box and rotated in a clockwise direction, the flange or'lugs upon I the inside of the curb box may readily enter the more open space between the flange 16 and sloping surface 15, finally engaging upon the upper side of the flange 16, so as to cause the cover to be drawn downward snugly upon the top of the curb box, and in addition, by

reason of the radial slope of the flange 16, my a cover will be pressed bodily away from the engaged projection so that the downwardly projected flange 14 will be pressed against the far side of the curb box, causingthe lower stood by the disclosure presented.

In orderto reduce the Weight of the article,

it is possible to recess the flange 14 after the manner illustrated in Figure 5.

While in the present instance the cover is shown as adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the curb box, still other arrangements may be. mpl y I It is particularly to be noted that by the construction presented the cover will after application be held snugly and withaminimum of loose play. Thus, if a lifting force be applied to the edge of the coverradially outward of the depending flange 14:,thepoint of flange let to bindagainst the inner side of the engagement of the lug of the box 10 will act as fulcrum causing the lower part of the box and preventing the cover from lifting relatively'to the box. 'Atthe opposite side of the cover any liftin 'tendency will be opposed directly by theange 16. Under lifting stress on the lid at other points, components ofboth resistent effects will be manifest, as; may be understood.

It is one of the important advantages of any invention that it is applicable toboxes heretofore manufactured for use with other covers, when the fastenings or lugs have become broken, and whenit is no. longer possible to secure the regular cap in place thereon. Itis possible to utilize nay-cover when portions -.of the curb, box are broken away at the upper edge. It is notnecessary for the regularlug or flange cast in the curb box for securing the cover to be perfect, but if only a portion remains, it will be engaged properly to secure the cover in place. It is a further important advantage that by the structure presented the lugor flange onthe curb box which is utilized to retain cover in place does not have to.

be at a particular height from the top of the f box,butpro.j.ections at various distances from the. top will be properly engaged.

In order to secure the cover in adjusted positions if desired, I haveprovided a concentric series of apertures in the'plate 10 through one of'which nail, screw orpin may be inserted so as to pass closely as possible behind the lug 13 or other projection on the curb box engaged by the flange 16. This inserted member willengage the lug or other projection in case the cover turns counter clockwise.

In the use of this appliance it is possibleto utilize a curb box the entire top portion of p which has been brokenaway, as shown. in Figure 7. The edge of the flange 16 is so positioned with respect to the part 14 that when they are inserted androtated within the body of the curb box the flange 16 will engage against thelower side of the thread rib customarily formed in this bodyportion of the box. By unscrewing the upper section of the curb box slightly to compensate for the part gra-lly upon the lower side thereof having throughout a steep inclination radially divergent from the plane of the top, the lower p art of said helicoidal flange having the greatest radius. J

2. The structure of claim 1 in which a downward projection is formed upon the top opposite from said flange, for coaction therew1th, to enable the device to be wedged between the inner face of a box and a box projection when the latter is engaged by said helicoidal flange.

3. A curb box cover comprising a planiform top portion, a substantially concentric depending flange formed integrally thereupon at one side, and a helicoidal flange segmentv formed inwardly thereof extendingtoward the opposite side of the. top, said helicoidal flangebeing eccentric to the top and having throughout a steep inclination radially of the top so as to be divergent from the top, whereby the top engaging a box projection relative rotation will thrust the first-named flange against the side of the box and also draw the top down upon the box. 7

4. The structure ofclaim 3 in which said top is provided also With a part slopinginwardly' and downwardly and forming a j unction with the said helicoidal flange.

5. The structure of claim 3., in which the first named dependent flange extends; over a substantial are upon the cover and the part of maximum ra lius at the junction of said helicoidal flange with the top, beingadjacent a diametrical line on the cover from one termination of said dependent flange.

6. Ihe structure of claim 1 inwhich a downward projection is formed upon the top oppositely from said flange for coaction therewith, as described, the periphery of the flange being positioned with respect to said down- Ward projection so as to engage loosely Within the body of an interiorly and spirally ribbed curb box between the spiral rib-s thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

VICTOR E. BEAGLE. 

